Man seriously injured after nail gun accident

A Taupo construction worker was rushed by helicopter to Waikato Hospital today after being hit by a nail ricocheting from a nail gun.

Hospital staff could not find the nail that did the damage but the man's abdomen has a deep laceration and he has serious internal injuries. He is in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.

The Taupo-based Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter said they were called out around 9am to assist the 43-year-old man who was injured using a nail gun.

He was working at a local site when a 90mm nail was believed to have ricocheted off building material.

The dangers of using nail guns was highlighted in 2005 by coroner Alan Macalister after a man from Cromwell died as a result of head injuries suffered when he was struck by a nail from a nail gun fired by a fellow worker at Placemakers building site in Frankton near Queenstown.

- NZPA